Gate strainer that fits into a gate valve curb box

ABSTRACT

A gate valve curb box strainer collects debris introduced through a street level cover, minimizing debris build up in the gate valve access pipe of the curb box. Water passes through the curb box strainer, while the strainer catches debris that naturally builds up over time via the street level cover. When a worker removes the cover to exercise the valve, he need only lift the gate strainer out of the access pipe and shake the debris out of it. There is no need to take extra time digging out or vacuuming out the debris. In an emergency situation such as accessing the valve for a fire hydrant or during a water/sewer main break, this could save valuable time. After the valve has been exercised, the empty gate valve curb box strainer is dropped back in place prior to covering the gate valve curb box with the street level cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Every water supply system has valves that regulate, stop, or start the flow of water in water supply distribution lines. If a valve is not used over a period of time, it can corrode and become inoperable. In order to ensure that these valves can be operated whenever needed (particularly in emergency situations), they must be routinely exercised by opening and closing the valve.

The process of exercising a valve first involves removing the accumulated sediment and dirt from the gate valve curb box, i.e., the street-level cover and connecting pipe that provides access to the valve to be exercised. Over time, the gate valve curb box can become thickly clogged, requiring a worker to take extra time to dig out the sediment or use a utility vacuum cleaner.

SUMMARY OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A novel gate valve curb box strainer is provided, that can be installed below the street-level cover of the gate valve curb box, to collect debris introduced through the street level cover, in order to effectively minimize debris build up in the gate valve access pipe of the curb box. The design allows water to pass through the curb box strainer, while catching the sand, stones, road salt, and asphalt that naturally build up over time via the street level cover. When a worker removes the cover to exercise the valve, he or she need only lift the gate strainer out of the access pipe and shake the debris out of it. There is no need to take extra time digging out or vacuuming out the debris. In an emergency situation such as accessing the valve for a fire hydrant or during a water/sewer main break, this could save valuable time. After the valve has been exercised, the empty gate valve curb box strainer is dropped back in place prior to covering the gate valve curb box with the street level cover.

The gate valve curb box strainer effectively saves labor cost by allowing quicker access to the valve. It also reduces the variability of time it takes to access each valve, making it easier to predict how much time it will take to exercise a given number of valves. This will help municipalities with creating and budgeting a valve exercise schedule. It is recommended that gate box strainers of the present invention may beneficially be used by municipalities and their water and sewer distribution contractors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a conventional gate valve curb box 1 having a street level cover 2 and a descending access pipe 3 having a bottom portion 4 adjacent a gate valve not shown.

FIG. 2 illustrates the gate valve curb box strainer 5 (hereinafter curb box strainer) of the present invention, positioned over gate valve 11.

FIG. 3 shows the curb box strainer being inserted into the curb box.

FIG. 4 shows the curb box strainer resting on a rim portion of the curb box after insertion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, in order to access the curb box 1, the street level cover 2 is removed and the curb box strainer 5 is inserted into the curb box as indicated in FIG. 3 by grasping a conventional flip-over handle 8 by the worker's fingers 8 a, which handle normally rests upon an upper rim 7 of the curb box.

As shown in FIG. 2, the curb box strainer 5 has a downwardly converging wall portion 6 that is affixed to rim 7 by, for example, a number of weld spots 10. The downwardly converging wall portion 6 preferably conforms to the slope of the converging wall portions 3 of the curb box 1 shown in FIG. 1 in order to maximize the holding capacity of the aforesaid debris carried by water that builds up in time via the edges of the cover 2.

FIG. 4 shows the strainer seated upon an upper rim of the curb box. Note that the conventional flip-over handle 8 is now resting upon rim 7 of the strainer, so that the handle does not get in the way of debris carried by water flowing downwardly via the street level cover.

Thus a gate valve curb box strainer 5 is provided, configured to be positioned within a gate valve curb box 1, the curb box strainer having wall portions 6 for accumulating debris, and having a first set of apertures 9 in the side wall portions in FIG. 2, and a second set of apertures 9 a in the bottom wall portions of the strainer shown in FIG. 4. These apertures within the strainer enable water to pass downwardly through the apertures while blocking debris, and thus holding the debris within the strainer to be later disposed of when the worker lifts the strainer out of the curb box by grasping the handle 8.

Thus, the method of the invention allows for quick access to a gate valve 11 (FIG. 2) beneath a gate valve curb box 1 (FIG. 1) in order to exercise the gate valve and comprises the steps of:

-   -   (a) providing a gate valve curb box strainer 5 configured to be         positioned within a gate valve curb box 1, said curb box         strainer having wall portions 6, (FIG. 2) for accumulating         debris carried by water flowing into the strainer via the gate         box cover 2 (FIG. 1), and apertures within the strainer for         enabling water to pass downwardly through said apertures,         together with a flip-over handle 8 for enabling the curb box         strainer to be lifted out of said gate valve curb box in order         to dispose of the debris;     -   (b) installing said curb box strainer 5 below a street level         cover 2 for a time period sufficient to result in accumulation         of debris captured by the curb box strainer;     -   (c) removing said curb box strainer after said time period and         removing the debris from the curb box strainer; and     -   (d) reinstalling said curb box strainer into said gate valve         curb box.

My preferred prototype had the following characteristics. Generally, gate valve curb boxes have similar standard sizes and shapes. This permits the gate strainer to also be constructed in a standard size that will fit into most gate valve curb boxes. The gate valve strainer is 8″ in length, cup shape in design with multiple 1/64″ strainer holes. These holes allow water to pass through while collecting debris. The lip or rim of the gate valve strainer is welded to the upper cup or rim portions and has a stainless steel flip-over handle attached to allow for easy installation and removal of the gate valve strainer. The gate valve strainer is constructed of 60-gauge aluminum that is both corrosion resistant and very durable under exposure to a wide range of water and soil conditions.

The prototype strainer has a height of eight inches, a top rim diameter of six inches and a bottom diameter of three inches

The stainless steel wire flip-over handle 8 is of a conventional design widely used in commerce. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,239 issued to Cook.

While the invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, the description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the language of the appended claims. 

1. A gate valve curb box strainer configured to be positioned within a gate valve curb box, said curb box strainer having wall portions for accumulating debris, and apertures within the strainer for enabling water to pass downwardly through said apertures, together with a handle for enabling the curb box strainer to be lifted out of said gate valve curb box in order to dispose of the debris.
 2. The curb box strainer of claim I wherein a first set of apertures are formed within side portions of said wall portions for enabling water to pass downwardly through said first set of apertures.
 3. The curb box strainer of claim 1 wherein a second set of apertures are formed within a bottom portion of said curb box strainer for enabling water to pass downwardly through said second set of apertures.
 4. The curb box strainer of claim 2 wherein a second set of apertures are formed within a bottom portion of said curb box strainer said wall portions for enabling water to pass downwardly through said second set of apertures.
 5. The curb box of claim 1 wherein said wall portions have a substantially downwardly converging shape that roughly conforms to shapes of wall portions of many curb boxes.
 6. The curb box of claim 2 wherein said wall portions have a substantially downwardly converging shape that roughly conforms to shapes of wall portions of many curb boxes.
 7. The curb box of claim 3 wherein said wall portions have a substantially downwardly converging shape that roughly conforms to shapes of wall portions of many curb boxes.
 8. The curb box of claim 4 wherein said wall portions have a substantially downwardly converging shape that roughly conforms to shapes of wall portions of many curb boxes.
 9. A gate valve curb box strainer configured to be positioned within a gate valve curb box, (a) said curb box strainer having wall portions for accumulating debris, and apertures within the strainer for enabling water to pass downwardly through said apertures, together with a handle for enabling the curb box strainer to be lifted out of said gate valve curb box in order to dispose of the debris; and (b) wherein a first set of apertures are formed within said wall portions for enabling water to pass downwardly through said first set of apertures; and (c) wherein a second set of apertures are formed within a bottom portion of said curb box strainer for enabling water to pass downwardly through said second set of apertures; and (d) wherein said wall portions have a substantially downwardly converging shape that roughly conforms to shapes of wall portions of many curb boxes; and (e) further including a peripheral support member positioned upon an upper portion of said curb box strainer enabling said curb box strainer to rest upon said gate valve curb box,
 10. The curb box strainer of claim 9 wherein a flip-over handle is positioned over said upper portion of said curb box strainer enabling moving the curb box strainer into and out of the curb box without obstructing an entrance portion of said curb box.
 11. A method for allowing quick access to a gate valve beneath a gate valve curb box in order to exercise the gate valve comprising the steps of (a) providing a gate valve curb box strainer configured to be positioned within a gate valve curb box, said curb box strainer having wall portions for accumulating debris, and apertures within the strainer for enabling water to pass downwardly through said apertures, together with a handle for enabling the curb box strainer to be lifted out of said gate valve curb box in order to dispose of the debris; (b) installing said curb box strainer below a street level cover for a time period which may result accumulation of debris captured by the curb box strainer; (c) removing said curb box strainer after said time period and removing the debris from the curb box strainer; and (d) reinstalling said curb box strainer into said gate valve curb box.
 12. A method for allowing quick access to a gate valve beneath a gate valve curb box in order to exercise the gate valve comprising the steps of: (a) providing a gate valve curb box strainer as set forth in claim 5; (b) installing said curb box strainer below a street level cover for a time period sufficient to result in accumulation of debris captured by the curb box strainer; (c) removing said curb box strainer after said time period and removing the debris from the curb box strainer; and (d) reinstalling said curb box strainer into said gate valve curb box.
 13. A method for allowing quick access to a gate valve beneath a gate valve curb box in order to exercise the gate valve comprising the steps of (a) providing a gate valve curb box strainer as set forth in claim 9; (b) installing said curb box strainer below a street level cover for a time period sufficient to result in accumulation of debris captured by the curb box strainer; (c) removing said curb box strainer after said time period and removing the debris from the curb box strainer; and (d) reinstalling said curb box strainer into said gate valve curb box.
 14. A method for allowing quick access to a gate valve beneath a gate valve curb box in order to exercise the gate valve comprising the steps of: (a) providing a gate valve curb box strainer as set forth in claim 10; (b) installing said curb box strainer below a street level cover for a time period sufficient to result in accumulation of debris captured by the curb box strainer; (c) removing said curb box strainer after said time period and removing the debris from the curb box strainer; and (d) reinstalling said curb box strainer into said gate valve curb box.
 15. The curb box strainer of claim 1 wherein said curb box strainer is made of Aluminum.
 16. The curb box strainer of claim 3 wherein said curb box strainer is made of aluminum.
 17. The curb box strainer of claim 4 wherein said curb box strainer is made of aluminum.
 18. The curb box strainer of claim 5 wherein said curb box strainer is made of aluminum.
 19. The curb box strainer of claim 9 wherein said curb box strainer is made of aluminum.
 20. The curb box strainer of claim 10 wherein said curb box strainer is made of aluminum. 